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Crosswalks: It’s Culture, not Engineering
Finishing up a visit to the East Coast, I’m reminded again about my strong feelings about the way we treat crosswalks in Portland. We’re told by the engineers that adding crosswalks gives pedestrians a false sense of security. As an engineering principle, that may have some validity (although new studies question it). But it’s simply…
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Bridge Update
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Consumer Reports Looks at E85
In its October 2006 issue, Consumer Reports magazine looks at E85 Ethanol and the FFVs (Flexible Fuel Vehicles) that can use it. Unfortunately the full online version of the article is only available to subscribers. However, you can view a preview. The general tone of the article is skeptical. Here are some of the key…
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Small-scale Biodiesel
Recently we discussed the need to keep biodiesel production close to where the crops are grown to make the ecnomoics work. This month’s Oregon Business Magazine has brief article (“Putting the biodiesel plant in the farmer’s hands…literally“) noting a potential technology to do the refining at a micro scale.
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Train Wreck
Update 9/8/06 This morning the Oregionial Editorial Board weighed in, opposing tolling 99W where it would parallel the new bypass. Original Post: 9/5/06 the phrase quoted in this morning’s O from a county commissioner describing the potential toll road bypass around Newberg and Dundee: “That’s just not going to fly,” said Yamhill County Commissioner Leslie…